Three Members of Drug Trafficking Organization Admit to Conspiring to Sell Heroin in New Jersey

Three Members of Drug Trafficking Organization Admit to Conspiring to Sell Heroin in New Jersey

TRENTON, NJ—Three members of a large-scale drug trafficking organization have admitted conspiring to distribute heroin in Ocean and Monmouth counties and elsewhere in New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced today.

Richard Durham, 28, of Brick, New Jersey, Jamar Johnson, 35, a/k/a “Rep,” of Lakewood, New Jersey, and Anthony J. Brooks, 45, of San Bernadino, California, all pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court to informations charging them with conspiring to distribute heroin. Durham entered his plea today. Johnson and Brooks entered their pleas on Dec. 1, 2014, and Nov. 24, 2014, respectively.

In March 2014, 18 other alleged members of the drug trafficking organization of which Durham, Johnson, and Brooks were members were charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to distribute heroin. The complaint referred to the drug trafficking organization as the “Britt-Young DTO,” after its leaders, Robert Britt, a/k/a “True,” and Rufus Young, a/k/a “Equan,” a/k/a “E-Money,” a/k/a “Kintock.” Of those 18 individuals, five have pleaded guilty.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Between September 2013 and March 2014, Johnson and Durham conspired with Rufus Young and others to distribute heroin in Ocean and Monmouth counties as part of the Britt-Young DTO.

Brooks shipped through the U.S. Postal Service packages from California containing large quantities of heroin and cocaine to conspirators in New Jersey, including an individual who supplied heroin to the Britt-Young DTO. The conspirators in New Jersey then transported and packaged the narcotics and distributed them to others. Brooks shipped more than 1 kilogram of heroin and 1.5 kilograms of cocaine from California to New Jersey.

The narcotics conspiracy charge to which Durham and Johnson pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $1 million fine. The charge to which Brooks pleaded guilty carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Sentencing for Durham is scheduled for March 10, 2015. Johnson’s sentencing is scheduled for March 9, 2015, and Brooks’ sentencing is scheduled for March 2, 2015.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, Red Bank Resident Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, with the investigation leading to the guilty pleas.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Grippo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.